Ohio's jobless rate inched lower in October

Ohio's unemployment rate inched down another notch to 6.9 percent in October, the first time the state has dipped below 7 percent since August 2008.

Released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Friday morning, the number of workers unemployed fell to 396,000 in October from 406,000 in September. In the past 12 months, Ohio's number of unemployed workers has decreased by 88,000.

"This is the lowest unemployment rate since August 2008 when it was 6.8 percent," said Benjamin Johnson, a spokesman for the department. "In September 2008 the unemployment rate was 7.0 percent."

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The previous month's unemployment rates are always revised when the new rates are released, Johnson added. Ohio's revised unemployment rate for September 2012 was 7.1 percent.

The revise job numbers usually don't change the rates, but can in some cases, Johnson said. Such was the case in September, which had an initial rate of 7.0 percent.

Service-producing industries added 16,000 jobs in October. Increases were also seen in professional and business services, up 7,300; government, up 5,200; education and health services, up 3,400; and other services, up 3,100, according to a press release.

Other sectors posting job gains included financial activities, up 400; hospitality, up 300; and information, up 100.

Ohio did experience some job losses in certain sectors, according to the release. Trade, transportation and utilities saw a loss of 3,800 jobs; goods-producing industries were down 2,100 from September; and manufacturing lost 2,200.